254 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



Myatfs Victoria. — A strong grower of excellent flavor and 

 C[tiite early. These two varieties I have growing. 



Downing^s Colossal. — This is an American seedling, 

 raised by the late A. J. Downing, and of course may be 

 expected to be more hardy and worthy of culture in our 

 dry climate than the English varieties. I have not seen 

 it, but it is represented to be a very strong grower of the 

 highest flavor. 



MijaWs LinncBus. — An imported variety, is now most 

 popular at the north. 



The following analysis of the ash of rhubarb was made 

 by J. H. Salisbury : — - 





ROOT, 



LEAF-STALK, 



i:,EAF-BLADK. 



Silicic Acid, 



. 4.595 . 



. 1.557 . 



. 8.928 



Phosphates, 



. 34.788 . 



• 24.702 . 



. 22.792 



Lime, .... 



. 5.414 . 



. 2.754 . 



. 6.744 



Magnesia, . . 



. 3.375 . 



. .227 . 



. 1.363 



Potash, . . . 



. 8.349 . 



. 5.883 . 



. 9.247 



Soda, .... 



. 28.607 . 



. 37 015 . 



. 32.143 



Sodium, . . . 



.166 . 



. 1.837 . 



. 2.479 



Chlorine, . . . 



.255 . 



. 2.799 . 



. 3.772 



Sulphuric Acid, 



. 5.957 . 



. 5.868 . 



. 5.017 



Organic matter \ 









thrown down by 



- 8.494 . 



. 17.358 . 



. 7.515 



Nitrate of Silver, ' 

















100.000 



100.000 



100.000 



Rhubarb is remarkable for the quantity of phosphates 

 and soda it extracts from the earth. Crude soda might be 

 added to the soil. Guano and bone-dust are very bene- 

 ficial. 



Culture. — My first experience in raising rhubarb in this 

 climate was not very fortunate. A friend, to whom I am 

 indebted for many really valuable plants, but unacquainted 

 with this, hearing that I had sent for the seed, kindly 

 offered me several roots which had been given to him for 



